A leftist friend told me during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries that being a Democrat felt like being in an abusive relationship. And indeed, as leftists, our electoral battles with Democrats end in wailing and gnashing of teeth. It all arises from how we situate ourselves with respect to the Democratic Party.
But we can redefine our relationship with Democrats. In doing so, we will not only relieve our distress, but also position ourselves to build meaningful, sustained power.
I’ll start by sketching a false assumption that drives leftist electoral strategy. Rejecting this assumption frees us to build a more productive relationship with Democrats. And with that relationship in place, we can organize with clear purpose.
